Children's playgrounds - Kodomo no Kuni (Children's Land)

I don't post pictures of my kids on my blog, and I don't intend to blog about my family.  However, we did visit Kodomo no Kuni (こどもの国　in Japanese）this weekend and I had to share photos of the playgrounds and will be soon sharing photos of the beautiful natural scenery in this park.

This is one of the more interesting play structures at the park. It's some sort of hexagonal climbing frame. All the kids had a blast playing on it.

Here's a shot of it from another angle.

This is what it looks like from the inside. Sort of a weird modular building. Perhaps this is what the inside of a beehive looks like.

A vending machine for everything...

In Japan, it seems that there is a vending machine for everything.  Here's some of the more unusual ones that I have seen....

Here's a Cup Noodle vending machine located near the 100-yen park (a.k.a.  にこにこパーク) in Meiji Jingu Gaien.

Here's a beer and alcohol vending machine.  I haven't used one, but I believe that you need to insert an identification card to get you beverage.

This is the Japanese version of the Red Box DVD rental machines that are popping up in the US.

Haikyo in the Azabu area?

Abandoned ruins in Japan are known as Haikyo.  I especially like the photographs of them in Michael John Grist's blog.  He's gone to the extremes to find these abandoned deteriorating buildings.

The ones that I photographed in this post are of the haikyo that I have come across during my walks around my Tokyo neighborhood.  Most are not really that deteriorated.  They appear abandoned or seldom used.  There are padlocks on the doorways and boarded up windows.  Several appear to have suffered some vandalism.  However, I haven't entered any these buildings, so I can't give much insight.

Here's one I spotted in Minami-Azaubu.  It appears to be some sort of machine shop.  There's a large milling machine in the front, perhaps it's a lathe.  I didn't really take a close look.

Here are two more right next to each other in Minami-Azabu.  These are very close to the posh Moto-Azaubu area.  It looks like there is enough area to park a car in front of the second one.  Usually the property owner would block off access to parking, but perhaps he lives nearby and uses it to park his car?

Finally, here's one I spotted in Shirogane.

Ginkgo

There are stunning Ginkgo trees all over Tokyo.  Ginkgo leaves are especially beautiful in early spring and autumn.  This particular tree is located near Hiro-o Byoin-mae.

No more Sakura Photos...

This is the last post I will make tonight... I promise.

Anyway, here's a Sakura photo that I took several weeks ago that I overlooked.   I didn't really think to much of it.  It's a standard shot, the blossoms are not quite perfect, and the photo is a little on the high key side, with the colors starting to look a little washed out. 
Anyway, I won't get the chance to take more until next year...

I don't like Shibuya...Really, I don't like Shibuya...

The area around Shibuya station is a little too crowded for my liking.  But then again, the very reasons that I don't like it... it's frenetic, chaotic and crowded.. are the very reasons that make it interesting.  It's a beautiful, chaotic, symphony of people, lights and buildings.  A whole orchestra sounding off simultaneously to attract your attention.

Here's the entrance to JR's Shibuya Station.

Not many people look down here, but there's some nice Hachiko hand-hole covers located near the Hachiko's statue.

Here is the famous statue of Hachiko near Shibuya Station.

Here's another view of Hachiko's statue and his admirers.

One more of Hachiko.

Here's the ubiquitous shot of Shibuya Crossing and it's favorite scramble.

Another look at the scramble... The vehicular traffic stops and thousands of people cross every few minutes.

More Spring Trees

The variety of beautiful trees in Tokyo's small parks is amazing...

Here are some tall tree's near Tokyo Tower. They could be Japanese Cedar but they are probably some other variety of pine tree.

These are some sort of Cypress trees in Shinjuku Gyoen.  Check out all the cypress knees shooting out of the ground.

 

Spring Trees

The parks in Tokyo aren't very big when compared to other cities, but they are very beautiful.

I spotted some beautiful spring trees at Himonya Park.  I thought that it was unusual to see the red and green varieties of the Japanese Maple in spring. 

Here are some green maple leaves.

Here are some of the red variety.

Here are some spring Ginkgo leaves.

Koinoburi at Himonya Park

Here are some koinoburi that I saw while picnicking with the family at Himonya Park.  Koinoburi are flown in May for Kodomo no hi (or Children's Day). 

Orwellian Pachinko Parlor Advertisement

I saw this sign for a pachinko parlor near Azabu Juban.  To me, it seemed very Orwellian and frightening.  What the #$@% is an Amusement Revolution Group?

Here's another sign that I found more interesting and appealing.  It was near Hiroo Plaza and Hiroo Bashi and advertised another pachinko parlor.